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Plan Bee Central Blog

Michael Schacker was honored with the “Cultural Achievement Award 2010″ from The Artists’ and Humans’ Project for his book, “A Spring Without Bees”the first book to expose the dangers of imidacloprid and clothianidin and other neonicotinoid pesticides linked to colony collapse disorder. Here’s what you can do!

Almost 6 years after it’s publication, more and more research is coming out proving Michael Schacker’s book, A Spring Without Bees was right all along about the strong link to pesticides as the cause of honeybee and other pollinator dramatic die-offs and decline.

Study show bees have a preference for nicotine and caffeine traces in nectar. Daily Mail

CCD Update 2010: MOST IMPORTANT NEW PROOF TO DATE THAT WE ARE RIGHT! VIDEO 2009 – Italian scientists prove neonicotinoid poisoning of bees from just drinking the dew from the leaves! Please use a translator for English when you view this video: Video documentation The plant does not need to be in flower—the bee does not need to consume nectar or pollen to die from this type of pesticide poisoning. The natural phenomena is called “gluttation”. This is not been revealed in ANY previous scientific testing of the chemicals in ANY study ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD or reported anywhere in the U.S. news. News reporters please take note! GMO crops that have the pesticide genome genetically engineered into the plant will have the same effect as plants or seeds treated with neonicotinic pesticides. So the answer to the question—are GMO crops to blame for CCD and honeybee die-off is YES—but it is still neonicotinic pesticides that are the cause. This is a high dose, so the bee dies soon after drinking. This completely invalidates the arguments against the dangers of neurotoxic pesticides like imidacloprid or IMD to bees. Please post this on Facebook, Twitter and other places with a link to PlanBEECentral.com–and a credit to “A Spring Without Bees” book. –And check the NEWS page for updates!

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43 Responses to “Plan Bee Central Blog”

“A Spring Without Bees” is a fabulous book. It is packed with the facts needed to help anyone make the informed decision that nicotine pesticides are a real threat: this dangerous class of pesticides needs to be suspended immediately.

More logically, we need to reconsider how we use all pesticides.

We used Michael’s book extensively during research and filming for our new documentary “Nicotine Bees (NicotineBees.com).”

Anyone who cares about the health of the planet, bees, our food supply or good regulations should read this very important book.

patricia Wilsonsaid

I have just completed reading this book, the information is vital to our nations health. This book needs to be in all of the schools, and it would greatly benefit us all, if it was a required course of study! The children can save our society and they need to read the book!!!
…Retired Registered Nurse, with a passion for saving our bees and society!

We are bringing a Save Bee World philanthropic fundraising program into the K-5 schools, and getting them involved. Seeking entertaining class lessons…which may also meet national school standards would be great.
Films, or any tools also a gift…You can call me at 407 353 8235…or referrals…any way to educate the little ones
on how they can Save Bee World! Thanks, Cherise

Stevensaid

I’m two-thirds through “Spring Without Bees” and have found the book very interesting, informative and well-researched.

You have accurately identified the tremendous challenge that is faced any time environmental concerns must confront economic interests. Perhaps additional support would be gained by emphasizing the economic side of the equation for food system losses due to CCD.

Stevensaid

One additional suggestion I would offer to get your information out to a wider audience is to provide an update to the Wikipedia article “Imidacloprid Effects on Bee Population.” This is another article which makes no mention of the return of bees in France in 2005.

Wikipedia does not allow self-promotion, so we have not been able to post a link there. Perhaps you or someone else can post a link to ASpringWithoutBees.com and the book—? It would be greatly appreciated.

I recently finished several weeks of internet research looking for any legitimate indications of causes for CCD. During that time I stumbled upon your book, read it, and then everything came together. I appreciate how you do not bow to the idea that it is some mystery, which only perpetuates our ignorance of where our food comes from, and dive in and make reasonable, well-researched points toward pesticide use. I liked your book so much I recently wrote a review of it on my blog, The Honey Pamphlet (www.honeypamphlet.wordpress.com), so my small readership could be brought up to date. Thanks for such a great book, and although the media, the universities, and the corporations are still quiet, I’m confident your research will prove beneficial to developments here in the US. Thanks again, and thanks for keeping us up to date here at Plan Bee Central.

Thank you for your support and encouragement. It is yet another Spring Without Bees and there is so much to do! The article you wrote in The Honey Pamphlet is one of the best I’ve seen.
(This is posted by Barbara, Michael’s wife, commenting for him. Though he is recovering his speech and has now started to type, he is not quite able to do this himself yet. Be sure to check out the NEWS blog page for updates.)

Cordial greetings
I am beekeepers publicist for the last 2 years in Poland
Would You suggest me some contacts with beekeepers and scientists in USA as we want to create independent research group to clear the impact of GMO on BEES.

I’m two-thirds through “Spring Without Bees” and have found the book very interesting, informative and well-researched.

You have accurately identified the tremendous challenge that is faced any time environmental concerns must confront economic interests. Perhaps additional support would be gained by emphasizing the economic side of the equation for food system losses due to CCD.

We are bringing a Save Bee World philanthropic fundraising program into the K-5 schools, and getting them involved. Seeking entertaining class lessons…which may also meet national school standards would be great.
Films, or any tools also a gift…You can call me at 407 353 8235…or referrals…any way to educate the little ones
on how they can Save Bee World! Thanks, FX15

For Barbara, We are trying to reach you to announce a cultural achievement award for your collaborative work with Michael. I left two back-to-back phone messages on your Stroke Family line at 877-835-3157. Please email or we can make phone contact at 718-885-9584 , a home office. Best place to leave detailed message is 212-414-5298 Manhattan voicemail. Hope we can connect. Michael Morrison

sylvia bullettsaid

I am urging everyone to sign the petition that is circulating urging the EPA to immediately ban clothiandin. I am pleased that more people are becoming aware of the issue. Of interest: I used the Freedom of Information Act to ask for the research that Bayer did in Belgium on Colony Collapse Disorder. When I received the disk in the mail all of the most pertinient information had been blacked out. We shall perservere! What I could still ascertain was that they found large amounts of pesticides in the dead bees and concluded that the varoa mite had killed them.

As a person who has an environmental website (brightsphere.com) and having read many articles on the bee Colony Collapse Disorder I wanted to say that Michael Schacker’s book is the best one I’ve read. Its clear, concise and to the point. It is written to be interesting to a college professor or a bright 15 year old. What makes It most interesting to me is the sense of history that Mr. Schacker brings to his writing. From ancient times, to the most cutting edge technology Mr. Schacker leaves one’s heard reeling with how the web of life is so entwined with the common honey bee which is such an integral part of this symphony of life that takes place beyond most human’s awareness. I think it will be seen as a classic in the area of natural science for generations to come.

Jim Baldwinsaid

I have a copy of your book. Arrived a few months ago, safely wrapped in cardboard and sealed with duct tape. I live in Maine where duct tape is revered. The tape gave me a chuckle. The book may not have gotten it’s fair share of publicity, but I’m sure it helped start a huge wave in motion. A couple of movies following it didn’t hurt either to raise public awareness; Queen of the Sun, and of course Nicotine Bees based off your work. I loved it when the president of Slow Food singled out Bayer as the culprit, in Queen of the Sun. Well Susan G Komen may be taking a well deserved shellacking in the media lately, but global warming and those little critters that pollinate haven’t been forgotten. “You can’t fool with Mother Nature”.
A recent study linked the pesticide to weakening the honeybee, so it’s usual adversaries could get the upper hand.
To me it was a honeybee parallel to HIV weakening the immune system of people. Both die indirectly, being left so vulnerable.
Common Dreams had the honeybee article as one of it’s most read news articles, just last week! So why did I write?
Just because,,, no big reason I suppose.. except I wanted to. I hope you are still making good progress in your recovery. Excuse the grammar… I suppose it’s obvious I don’t write for a living.
Do keep a journal though, which I find relaxing. Something about using pen and paper makes me feel good.

Sincerely,
Jim Baldwin
Scarborough, ME

PS
I included this message when I forwarded the article through the Common Dreams email service; Which I hope works..but just in case here it is. “More Damning Evidence Points to Pesticide as Cause of Mass Bee Deaths”
Published on Monday, January 30, 2012 by Common Dreams

Jim Baldwinsaid

sylvia bullettsaid

Misinformation abounds! Colony Collapse Disorder is still referred to as “a mystery” NO MYSTERY! BAYER PESTICIDES MUST BE BANNED!!! Stop poisoning the bees–priovide them with clean forage and they recover!

Jim Baldwinsaid

As you put it bees have been over-exploited for many years, and a large factor for their decline.
Certainly these creatures deserve better treatment, no argument there. Greed certainly plays a role in their demise. It doesn’t explain, though, the very rapid increase in bee mortality beginning around 2005. Unfortunately, a particular type of insecticide placed on the global market by Bayer, had an unintended very harmful side effect on honeybees. Italy banned the use of the insecticide and the honeybee population has been making a comeback there. Other countries are following in that same pursuit. Bayer, on their own volition, recently removed the product for use in the California almond orchards. This area is the world’s largest supplier of almonds. Pesticide Action Network , panna.org, would be good place for follow up on that. “With little fanfare, pesticide manufacturer Bayer has asked California regulators to limit the use of one of their most profitable products, imidacloprid”. It’s hard to get a corporation to stop promoting one of their most lucrative products. The more people become aware of this problem, the better. Michael’s book, “A Spring Without Bees”, has a lot to say on this topic.

The pesticides cause nervous system disorder and immune deficiency disorder in bees and this is why they will NOT become more resistant to mites, fungus, and viruses on their own. Bees are many times more sensitive than the tough target insects and studies haves shown that only the target insects are becoming more resistant to the pesticides.

Beekeepers generally are extraordinarily gentle and considerate in their bee practices. Only an untrained novice would make the mistake of taking ALL of the surplus honey. The bees would not survive the winter and they would have to replace their hives in the spring if they took all of it. Hives that have ample supplies of native nectar and pollen produce many times more than they need for winter, as a counter measure to bears and other colonies that only rarely raid their hives. The beekeeper protects their hives from bears and with ample natural food sources other colonies are not a problem, so usually there is a large amount of extra honey. Organic beekeepers feed their honeybees when food sources are low with something called “bee tea”. It is made of honey, peppermint and sometimes wild flower tea and is quite nutritious. Corn syrup has been used in bee tea, but if this is done, it must be organic corn syrup, otherwise it is full of the pesticide that is killing the bees.

It is now known that these days there are no longer colonies surviving in the wild. Hives in the wild are those that have swarmed or split off from their original colony with a new queen. The new queen will take some of the hive members to start a new colony. If there are no empty boxes or safe places they will swarm into barns and walls of houses. These bees are exterminated with poison in most cases because many people do not realize that local beekeepers will come and capture the hive and place it in a safe place with their other colonies. If left in the wild they no longer survive because they are actually more exposed to pesticide, mites, virus, bears—and because wild flowers have been cultivated out of existence and there isn’t enough food to get them through the winter in the wild. Honeybees are extremely intelligent, they can recognize their beekeeper and seem to appreciate the care given by the beekeeper and the safety of the hive. In fact, they do not mind sharing their honey—this can be verified by beekeepers who often go out to harvest excess honey with little or no netting or smoke and are not attacked by the bees. Excess honey if unused will be dumped by the bees. Much like domestic chickens or cows, the honeybee has adapted and evolved to human interaction and care for their survival. Bees and humans are interdependent.

Little research is being done to see how wild bees species–different species than domestic honeybees–are thriving. One reason is that honeybee colonies in the wild are now so rare that it becomes almost impossible to study them. It does appear from informal reports however, that wild bee and wild pollinators are indeed being affected by the pesticides and are disappearing, though the wild bees–many do not make honey but eat pollen instead–seem to be a little more resistant to the chemicals.

Mechanized agriculture for corporate agribusiness have created an artificial form of beekeeping with unnatural practices like the transporting of bees long distances.

A few more clarifications: Some beekeepers have been forced–out of economic necessity–to service monoculture farming but still hold to bee-friendly and earth-friendly beekeeping practices.

Wild bees are a different species than “honey bees”. They are not the efficient pollinators that true “honeybees” are. Commercial honey in the markets is often not real honey made by honey bees, but an artificial product made from corn syrup and artificial flavoring! Purchase local honey from local beekeepers. Certain areas of the country have contaminated honey due to commercial farming.

Bees and other wildlife are poisoned by GMO crops that have the IMD and other pesticides in the plant systemically. Bees and other pollinators can drink the water run off and the plant leaf sap and be given lethal doses from crops that are not bee pollinated–like corn for example. Buy and eat only organic corn and soy products, as these are now ALL GMO and contaminated with neurotoxic pesticides. Buy ORGANIC and brands labeled NON GMO. Buy organic honey, or beekeepers in areas away from commercial farming like mountain and more wild and remote bio-regions.

My name is Bob Malecki and I’m promoting a new graphic novel for children written and illustrated by my wife, Suzanne Cheryl Gardner which uses an illustrated format to bring awareness of CCD to children.

We are interested in cross-promoting our materials on each of our respective websites. We have a resource section on Suzanne’s website at http://petrinasforestfriends.com/the-graphic-novel/ and have already linked to your website, and ask that you add her website link to your Websites to Visit section.

This is just great! I’ll be getting a copy of your book soon…if you want to send a copy to Michael he would love it! Let’s talk–please contact me at barbaraschacker@yahoo.com or call me at 845-382-9205. –Barbara

“Countermotion to Item 3: The actions of the members of the
Supervisory Board are not rati_ed
Since the 1980s, the Coalition against BAYER Dangers has repeatedly claimed that
pesticides represent an enormous risk for the animal world. The BAYER pesticides
GAUCHO and PONCHO are particularly dangerous and are partly responsible for bee
mortalities throughout the world. Last year, several large studies were published that
once again showed the high risks for bees and wild insects. Despite this, BAYER has not
stopped marketing the active ingredients for profit reasons.”

Thank you for posting this report, Amanda. Plan Bee Central needs and deeply appreciates people like you who continue to inform the public about the dangers of pesticides and the link to honeybee as well as other pollinator and wildlife death. –Barbara Schacker for Michael Schacker

R. Cannonsaid

Lots of good information and discussion. Is there any kind of action planned, such as going to the seed dealers with information for farmers to discourage purchasing of the poison coated corn? Why do they still sell it? Why do farmers buy it? Are they all that money focused? Don’t they need the bees too? And there seems to be an attitude that only the gov’t can fix it. But they are in bed with Bayer, Monsanto etc so there is really no hope there. There is no point in educating our children- they are powerless, and are being educated on the other hand that gov’t is there to help us.

If we can’t get millions of letters to our legislators, then the only solution is a grass roots effort- people facing directly the sales people and farmers with evidence and possibly “marching” with signs. This is the only thing that will get attention. And the means is there with the social networks, the “flash mob”. That’s what we need, and our gov’t has already taken legislative actions to use the military to quell these. The Wall st protests really got their attention, and they take action to protect themselves. They are now ready for these and the military can come in and stop the whole thing. So if legilators, EPA, FDA etc were interested in solving the problem and save the bees, they would have done so already. Same with GMO.

So is there a facebook page or anything about this? We really need some coordinated ACTION.

I run a Green Pest Control firm in Northern California and have become aware of CCD after talking to the farmers in my local area. With my knowledge of pesticides and systemic chemicals it frightens me that the farmers don’t have a clue that these crops are producing the pesticides that that are killing off their hives. These products work like a flu, once a bee is contaminated they spread it throughout the colony. We need to wake up and realize our mistakes before it’s too late.

Boniface Kamutisaid

Hi im interested in bee farming and want to go into large scale production. I reside in Kenya but my main concern has been marketing of honey locally which has not been very encouraging. While researching on marketing of honey, there seems to be an information gap concerning international markets or companies that are interested in purchasing honey form locals. Any information on this will be very useful.